There is plenty of volume, but the construction of gas plants and feeder pipelines lags behind drilling and completions. When the primary product (oil) is selling at $90+/- a bbl, for a 1000 BOPD well, flaring the byproduct (gas) worth $3-4/mcf--even at 1000MCF/day is a no-brainer, allowing some of the well costs (approx $10 million) to be recouped, at least until pipeline infrastructure can be tied in.
With multi-well pads, that backlog will diminish (fewer feeder lines needed), and less gas will be flared.
The amount flared is down to 29% of production versus the high of 36%, and progress is being made toward even lower numbers.
Thanks for the response.
Given the economics, gas infrastructure is going to lag. But, given those same economics, the gas will eventually be exploited.